Jenny always knew she wanted to work with animals and in her interview discusses the journey that led her to becoming a rider groom with the Royal Army Veterinary Corps. Growing up in Northern Rhodesia, she found the move difficult and initially struggled with army life. Once she had adapted to military life at Guildford, she remembers finding enjoyment in her specialised training and uniform. As a kennel maid, Jenny describes the different sections of dogs that were trained within the army and the limited dog-work available to women in the army. She recalls the lack of options for women and how much harder they had to work to progress into higher ranks, such as the horse stables. Once she had been promoted to the stables, she was placed in control of cavalry horses and breaking in wild horses for military use. She describes the difficulty of this job, along with its demanding hours and social restrictions. When asked to reflect on the WRAC Jenny states that she always felt part of a sisterhood, however, like many other female veterans resented the manner in which she was forced to leave on the condition of marriage and the restrictions placed on women in the army.

At 18 years old Bill Hurst joined the 1st King's Liverpool Regiment as a national serviceman, and describes how his initial training as a driver ultimately led him to fighting in Korea, a country he had never heard of. Bill recalls the terror of the shelling, and the shared realisation amongst the soldiers that they might not be returning home. In one particularly moving moment, he remembers the fear of being sent over the top and the shrapnel he took in his knee as a result of enemy fire. He also reflects on the huge loss of young men during this war, and how it has been largely forgotten as a war. However, Bill maintains the importance of remembering the funnier moments and shares fond memories of the friends he made, and the end of the war where they all knew they would be going home. Remembering the Battle of the Hook, Bill makes clear that he tried to keep his head down and survive the never-ending barrage of shells. His interview provides an authentic account of the Korean war and the reality of life in the trenches.

Geoff Pratt joined the British Army in 1968 at the age of 15, inspired by a love of music and encouragement from his future brother-in-law, a serving musician. Originally from Sandy, Bedfordshire, Geoff began his military musical journey on the euphonium, later transitioning to the trombone. Serving with the Royal Corps of Transport Staff Band, Geoff performed across the UK and abroad, including Germany, Cyprus, and Northern Ireland during the Troubles. He recalls the tense experience of performing in Armagh’s town square while armed soldiers stood guard in nearby shop doorways - vividly aware of the dangers military musicians could face in conflict zones. In addition to his musical duties, Geoff trained as an HGV driver, enabling him to transport the band’s instruments across challenging terrain, including through politically sensitive areas under armed escort. His service also included memorable performances such as the Horse of the Year Show and ceremonial parades. Geoff speaks with pride about the role of military music in uniting people, boosting morale, and honouring tradition, and reflects with lasting emotion on the sacrifice of fellow musicians, particularly those lost in the Regent’s Park Bandstand bombing.